Variable content quality and uncertainty about sources and reliability of YouTube videos can make physiotherapists and students vulnerable to exposure of false information and learn faulty treatment techniques.
To investigate educational quality, trustworthiness and accuracy of the YouTube videos about joint mobilization techniques demonstration.
A descriptive study.
A YouTube search was performed on 1st April 2019, using keyword ‘Maitland joint mobilization technique for shoulder joint ‘. Three academic physiotherapists independently rated the videos for quality, trustworthiness, and content accuracy of the videos were determined with Global Quality Score (GQS) (1–5 points), Journal of American Medical Association (JAMA) Benchmark Criteria and Health on Net (HON) code (0–4 points), and joint mobilization content accuracy scale (1–6 scale), respectively.
A total of 15 videos were included in the study. The median number of views for videos was 1263 (IQR 578–1478) and the median duration was 140 seconds (IQR 71-301seconds). Most of the videos were of low quality (87%) and had partial sufficient data (80%). The videos with low joint mobilization content accuracy score were the highest (80%).
Abundance of low-quality information on shoulder joint mobilization technique makes YouTube's potential as educational resource only partially fulfilled.
YouTube, Medical education, Shoulder joint, Physiotherapist, Information, Video
